Baz Luhrmann, David Lynch and Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute to Dino De Laurentiis at the veteran producer's funeral.

All three described the Italian-born producer, who died last week at age 91, as larger than life at the ceremony at his funeral at the Cathedral Of Our Lady Of The Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

"He fought big, he dreamed big, and that's the way he saw the cinema, as big," said Lynch, who made Dune and Blue Velvet with De Laurentiis. "10 grown athletic men combined, on PCP, would not equal even a tiny fraction of the energy that Dino had every day... Dino was like a steamroller working, dreaming and thinking the movies."

Lynch also described De Laurentiis as a "great practical joker".

Schwarzenegger, who was accompanied by wife Maria Shriver, got laughs from the crowd when he imitated De Laurentiis' Italian accent. Schwarzenegger made four films with De Laurentiis, and said he admired the producer's brains, courage and heart.

"He never feared failure, and this is the only way you can be successful in life," the Terminator-turned-politician said. "I learned that from Dino."

Luhrmann said De Laurentiis "taught me how to have fun".

"Dino De Laurentiis was able to blend effortlessly, without any effort whatsoever, life, art and family," the filmmaker said.

The producer's youngest daughters, Carolyna and Dina, also eulogized their dad. Carolyna De Laurentiis called him "A force of life" and a "master of Italian guilt."

His grandchildren, including Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis, read brief passages during the service.